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woensdag 25 januari 2012

Changes proposed to endangered, threatened species list; New data, tools help update status of rare species in Wisconsin

MADISON - Sixteen birds, plants and other animals are proposed to be
removed from the state's list of endangered or threatened species as the
result of a comprehensive scientific review of rare species in
Wisconsin, according to state endangered species officials.
They are now starting on the administrative rule-making steps
required to make the proposed changes. Information on those proposed
changes, process followed, and public comment opportunities are
available on the Endangered Resources pages of the Department of Natural Resources website.
Some of the 16 species proposed for removal responded well to
protections given to listed species and management efforts to increase
their populations, while others were found to not be as rare as once
thought or no longer occur in the state.

Thamnophis radix - Plains Garter Snake

At the same time, eight different species found during the review to
be in jeopardy now or in the near future are proposed to be added to
the list, a status that would make it illegal under Wisconsin's
Endangered Species Law for people to kill, transport, possess, process
or sell them.
"Extensive review of field data from scientists and citizen
monitors, DNA analysis, and new mapping technologies have given us an
unprecedented understanding of Wisconsin's natural heritage," said
Laurie Osterndorf, who directs DNR's Endangered Resources Bureau.
"We're proposing to update our list to accurately reflect this
information, recognizing Wisconsin's success in restoring some rare
species while giving others the protections they need to survive in the
21st century."
Wisconsin's Endangered Species Law requires DNR to review and,
following public input, revise its list of endangered or threatened
species. Since the first list was developed in 1972, it has been
revised 10 times, most recently in 2011 to add cave bats due to the
imminent threat of white-nose syndrome.
State endangered resources staff and outside taxonomy experts have
been reviewing information to update the list since January 2010, and
are now starting on the administrative rule-making steps required to
make the changes.
The steps needed before revisions can be made to the list have
changed as a result of Act 21, a law passed earlier this year that
required an economic impact analysis be developed in consultation with
those who may be affected, along with a more lengthy legislative review
process.
Earlier this week, Gov. Scott Walker approved DNR's scope of the
rule, which relates to the policy, purpose and objectives of the rule.
DNR will go to the Natural Resources Board in early 2012 to seek
approval of the scope statement, followed by seeking board authorization
to collect public comment to go into the economic impact analysis
required of the rule. After that analysis is done, DNR would seek board
authorization to conduct public hearings on the rule specifics.
People interested in following the process can get electronic
updates by visiting the Endangered Resources web page and selecting
"Subscribe to E/T Updates." Current list changes reflect new field studies, modeling, genetic analysis
The current review and revision effort started in January 2010 with
DNR's endangered resources staff reviewing scientific data for 3,000
plants and animals. Staff recommended 331 species for full,
comprehensive status reviews, Osterndorf said. Biologists from a
variety of state and federal agencies, organizations, and universities,
as well as naturalists throughout the state with taxonomic expertise
provided new or updated information on the population condition and
distribution of rare species in the state.

Emydoidea blandingii - Blanding's turtle

"This is the most comprehensive review ever conducted by the
department of the status of Wisconsin’s plants and animals," said Kurt
Thiede, who leads DNR's Land Division, which includes the endangered
resources program. "The program has made strides to create a more
transparent list review process and has developed specific scientific
guidelines governing how current research is applied to
decision-making,"
DNR submitted information along with all current scientific research
for each species, and made its proposed revisions. Charts with photos
showing the species proposed for addition to or removal from the list
are available online, along with the reason for the listing decision,
Osterndorf said.
The 16 species proposed to be removed from the list are the greater
redhorse, a small fish; the barn owl, snowy egret, and Bewick's Wren,
the Pygmy Snaketail, a dragonfly, and two reptiles. The Blanding's
Turtle review determined there are large, stable populations and wide
distribution. In the case of Butler's Gartersnake, new information
indicated greater abundance and range than previously believed. “Genetic
analysis done by UW-Stevens Point researchers concluded that
hybridization is not a threat to the species,” Osterndorf said.
The remaining species proposed to be removed from the list are
plants: the American fever-few, bog bluegrass, Canada horse-balm,
drooping sedge, hemlock Parsley, prairie Indian-Plantain, snowy campion,
yellow gentian, and Yellow Giant Hyssop. These species are proposed to
be delisted for one or more of the following reasons: determination that
populations are stable or increasing; new information about the
populations; a positive response to protection and management efforts;
and/or determination the plant no longer exists in Wisconsin.
Species being recommended for listing to protect declining
populations include three birds -- the Black Tern, Kirtland's Warbler,
Upland Sandpiper; and four invertebrates -- the beach-dune tiger
beetle, ottoe skipper, a leafhopper, an Issid planthopper, and fawnsfoot
mussel.
Wisconsin has been a leader in protecting and restoring endangered
species, and in fact passed the nation's first endangered species law in
1972, preceding the federal law. Among those endangered species whose
populations have recovered in Wisconsin to the degree they have been
removed from the list include bald eagles, which were removed from the
list in 1997, gray wolves in 2004, osprey in 2009, and trumpeter swans
in 2009.